Sandero and Santro in India Court of Law

Core Team

Hyundai Motors India Limtied has dragged Mahindra Renault to the high court where it has filed a petition against the latter alleging that Mahindra Renault’s upcoming launch Sandero sounds quite familiar to its most popular model Santro. In the petition, Hyundai alleges that Mahindra Renault intends to encash upon the familiar sounding name of its best selling model ‘Santro’. Hyundai has pleaded Delhi High Court to not to allow Mahindra Renault to launch the car in the Indian market.

"They (Mahindra Renault) are planning to launch Sandero, which is very similar soun

ding to our Santro. Both are hatchbacks and Santro is an established trademark and they are trying to get mileage out of it," a senior Hyundai Motor India Limited spokesperson said.

On the other hand, Mahindra Renault CEO, Nalin Mehta has responded to the lawsuit stating, “We have filed a reply requesting the Honorable court for removal of Mahindra Renault’s name as the defendant. Mahindra Renault does not have any ownership of the ‘Sandero’ brand. Mahindra Renault has never used or promoted the brand and it belongs to Renault and we have no locus standi on the brand. Our appeal with request stated above is filed with the Court and awaits hearing."

Core Team

Completely useless.
Now, Does this means that the two carmakers can't even keep names which sound similar? This was too by co-incidence.

I remember, Honda filing a case against TVS some years back because of the name used in TVS Bike called Star "City" which matches with Honda's car - "City". Atlast, Honda won the case and TVS had to remove the name "City" from bike, Afterwards it was called TVS Star Sport.